[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 44 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10051-10052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4857]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Proposed Projects:
    Title: Developmental Disabilities Program Independent Evaluation 
Project.
    OMB No.: New collection.
    Description: The Developmental Disabilities Program Independent 
Evaluation (DDPIE) Project is an independent (non-biased) evaluation to 
examine through rigorous and comprehensive performance-based research 
procedures the targeted impact on the lives of people with 
developmental disabilities and their families of three programs funded 
under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act 
of 2000 (DD Act): (1) State Councils on Developmental Disabilities 
(SCDDs); (2) State Protection and Advocacy Systems for Individuals with 
developmental disabilities (P & As); and (3) University Centers for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). The intent of this 
evaluation is to understand and report on the accomplishments of these 
programs, including collaborative efforts among the DD Network 
programs. The results of this evaluation will provide a report to the 
Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) (the agency that 
administers these programs) with information on the effectiveness of 
its programs and policies and serve as a way for ADD to promote 
accountability to the public.
    The independent evaluation is a response to accountability 
requirements for ADD as identified in the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act), the Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, and the Program Assessment 
Rating Tool (PART), administered by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). This project meets the requirements of PART by providing a non-
biased method of evaluating the effectiveness and impact of DD Network 
programs on the lives of people with developmental disabilities and 
their families.
    ADD is seeking OMB approval for the evaluation tools (e.g., data 
collection instruments). The evaluation tools are designed to collect 
data for two purposes: (1) To measure the programs according to 
indicators (structural, process, output, and outcome) in key function 
areas; and (2) to establish performance standards for measuring the 
impact of each of the programs. The evaluation tools are primarily 
protocols for conducting interviews with various staff of the three 
programs and stakeholders associated with the programs. The interview 
protocols were tested during a pilot study in 2008. There is also a 
self-administered form for each of the programs to be completed by 
Executive Directors or his/her designee. The self-administered form was 
developed as a result of the pilot study and, therefore, has not been 
tested for reliability and validity. It is intended that the clearance 
process will be a mechanism for determining the reliability, validity, 
and feasibility of using this instrument.
    Respondents: Staff of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, 
State Protection and Advocacy Systems for Indiviiduals with 
developmental disabilities, and University Centers for Excellence in 
Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service; 
individuals with developmental disabilities; parents of individuals 
with developmental disabilities; siblings of individuals with 
developmental disabilities; guardians; advocates; policymakers; service 
providers; university faculty; and others (e.g., DDC chairs, members of 
Protection and Advocacy boards of directors or commissioners; Consumer 
Advisory Committee members).

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD Council: Executive Director Interview........              20               1            4                 80
DD Council: Interview with Council Chair/Council              60               1            0.75              45
 Members........................................
DD Council: Group Interview with Policymakers,               160               1            2                320
 Collaborators, and Grantees....................
DD Council: Group Interview with Recipients of               100               1            0.75              75
 Self-Advocacy and Leadership Education and
 Training.......................................
DD Council: Group Interview with Recipients of               100               1            0.75              75
 Education and Training to Improve Community
 Capacity.......................................
DD Council: Self-administered Form..............              20               1            8                160
P&A: Executive Director Interview...............              20               1            4                 80
P&A: Staff Interview............................              60               1            0.75              45

[[Page 10052]]

 
P&A: Board of Directors (Commissioners)--Chair                60               1            0.75              45
 and Members....................................
P&A: Group Interview with Policymakers and                   160               1            2                320
 Collaborators..................................
P&A: Interview with Recipient of Community                   100               1            0.75              75
 Education......................................
P&A: Interview with Clients.....................             100               1            0.75              75
P&A: Self-administered Form.....................              20               1            8                160
UCEDD: Interview with Director..................              20               1            4                 80
UCEDD: Telephone Interview with Current and                  100               1            0.75              75
 Graduated Students.............................
UCEDD: Interview with the Consumer Advisory                   60               1            0.75              45
 Committee......................................
UCEDD: Interview with Peer Researchers and                   100               1            0.75              75
 Colleagues.....................................
UCEDD: Interview with Recipients of Community                100               1            0.75              75
 Services or Members of Organizations/Agencies
 that are Trained to Provide Community Services.
UCEDD: Self-administered Form...................              20               1            8                160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,065.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail 
address: [email protected]. All requests should be identified 
by the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: March 4, 2009.
Janean Chambers,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-4857 Filed 3-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P